Monday, March 9, 2015

Greek talks with creditors finally to start

by Peter Spiegel

Financial TimesMarch 9, 2015

Detailed talks between Greece and its bailout creditors will begin in both Brussels and Athens on Wednesday after a two-week stand-off that officials fear may have harmed their ability to reach a deal to distribute funds to the cash-strapped country before it runs out of money.

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Dutch finance minister who heads the eurogroup of his eurozone colleagues, said the disagreement over where to hold the meetings — the new Greek government has resisted the return of bailout monitors to Athens — had been “a complete waste of time” and urged both sides to work quickly.

“We have spent now two weeks apparently discussing who meets whom where in what configuration and on what agenda,” said Mr Dijsselbloem after a eurogroup meeting where Greece was discussed only briefly. “We’ve talked long enough now. Let’s start on Wednesday, starting in Brussels — the main talks in Brussels — but some people will have to be on the ground in Athens from the institutions.”

Other Blogs by Aristides Hatzis

Subscribe to "The Greek Crisis"

Search This Blog

by Petar Pismestrovic

About

This blog is dedicated to the understanding of the current Greek (but also European) economic, political and institutional crisis. It was created by Prof. Aristides Hatzis of the University of Athens, after many requests by his students who seek a source of reliable analysis on the Greek current affairs. Its aim is to post commentary and reports published mainly in the major U.S. and European media and to encourage a rigorous discussion.